Sumburgh Head - Braer Disaster

During a fierce storm in January 1993, the Liberian oil tanker Braer foundered on rocks to the west of Sumburgh near Garth Ness and 84,500 tons of crude oil poured into the sea. The stormy waters spread the oil over a wide area and, as a result, the coastline was spared from serious oil pollution. Now few traces of the disaster are visible, although thousands of sea birds were coated in oil and subsequently died. At the moment it is difficult to say whether fish stocks have been affected by the pollution and marine biologists will be studying the region in the next few years to see whether any permanent damage has occurred. The effect of the oil on marine life meant that many sea birds' lives were threatened by a shortage of food.